Child And Adolescent Volunteer Counsellor (Redbridge)

Location: Redbridge
Days: 1-3 days per week (days are flexible)

About Via in Redbridge

Via is a vibrant and innovative drug and alcohol charity committed to helping those who are affected by substance misuse. Fusion, our Young People’s drug and alcohol service in Redbridge, offers support to young people who may be affected by or at risk of drug or alcohol problems. Our service opening hours are 9am – 5pm on weekdays.

About the counselling service

The counselling service provides young people with the opportunity to meet in private with a counsellor to discuss issues and concerns which are currently making life difficult. These could include addictions, self-harm, relationship difficulties, family difficulties, loss and bereavement, trauma.

How you can help

As a Volunteer Counsellor, you will support the delivery of a wide range of interventions for service users.

These will include:

• See a minimum of 3 clients and a maximum of 6 clients per week (1 day).
• Keep accurate records of work and feedback any issues to the line manager
• Attend Via training (e-learning and face to face)
• Attend fortnightly clinical supervision

In addition to the above you will be invited to participate in meetings where relevant and to carry out other tasks as deemed necessary to support the needs of the counselling service.

What skills do you need?

We are seeking Volunteer Counsellors to undertake counselling work with young people aged 8 to 21.

Volunteers should be qualified in or studying towards a Diploma, BSC, or MSC in Child and Adolescent counselling or psychotherapy. This role would be ideal for someone looking to develop their therapeutic experience in the drug and alcohol field and accrue counselling hours towards accreditation with BPS, BACP, UKCP.

To ensure good practice and to maximise the safety of both therapists and clients, we require all students to conform and adhere to the following:

• Students are in their final year of an undergraduate degree or equivalent or are at a postgraduate level studying for a Diploma, BSC, or MSC in Child and Adolescent counselling or psychotherapy training.
• Trainees are expected to be a member of one of a recognised UK therapeutic governing bodies.
• Trainees may need to have conducted a minimum number of counselling hours
• Previous details of supervisor and present college tutor information should be sent to Via and agree that Via can ask supervisor and tutor from references.